Birch Box, My Glam, Beauty Army...oh my!

Hello all of you lovely readers!

I'm super excited that Birch Box has already posted my December box on their site, although it is still en route to me.  You can check it out by clicking THIS link.

If you're too lazy to click, I'll tell you what they wrote to me...

DECEMBER BOX

Hi there,
Scrooge who? As far as we’re concerned, this is the most magical time of the year. We love twinkling window displays filled with presents, a calendar full of ice skating parties and holiday mixers, and plenty of hot cocoa topped with whipped cream. Accordingly, we’ve filled this month’s box with products that will get you ready for frolicking and fancy fetes.

Swap your everyday neutral lip color for an exclusive lip gloss created especially for Birchbox members — fuchsia, of course. Add shine and silkiness to your strands with a luxe hair elixir, and soften your skin with a creamy lotion rich in Dead Sea minerals. And don’t forget the finishing touches: we’ve also included easy-to-use nail strips in an eye-catching shade.

Online, you’ll find everything you need to get through the festivities in style: try out celeb-inspired party looks, get tips on making your blowout last, and learn three different ways to wear red lips. Planning a ski vacation? Read our Insider Guide to Aspen, and get ready to be the prettiest bunny on the mountain.

Wishing you the happiest of holidays,
Katia, Hayley & the Birchbox Team

How do I feel about my December box?  Obviously it's impossible to know because I haven't tried it yet, but here's what's coming (hopefully tomorrow) :

AHAVA Mineral Body Lotion
Jouer Moisturizing Lip Gloss
Amika Obliphica Hair Treatment
Incoco Nail Polish Applique
Showstoppers Designer/Fashion Tape
EBoost Orange Natural Energy Booster

I'm excited to get my box, but now that I'm on my third one, some of the excitement has worn off.  Before, my box would arrive, and I would literally rip it open with a mixture of excitement/panic.  Could there be an amazing life changing product in here that I would die for?  

I will admit I'm really excited to try the Jouer lip gloss, since it's a color that specifically created for Birchbox!  However, I'm not really into the nail polish applique, fashion tape, or the energy drink.  Why do they send me non makeup items when all I'm interested in on their survey is the makeup samples?  AHH!!!  Drives me crazy.  In the past 3 months, I will have received 3 food related items, which is ultra lame considering they are a beauty company.  Mints, a chocolate bar, and an energy booster drink.  I did enjoy the mints, but considering this company is a beauty company, it does kind of annoy me.

So, I'll admit, I'm bummed that the ONLY product that is makeup related in my box this month is the Jouer lip gloss.  However, there are two reasons why I'm not going to pout quite yet.....

BeautyArmy and MyGlam!

There are two companies coming out that I recently subscribed to, and I am all kinds of excited about it.  My pocketbook does not want to be subscribed to Birchbox, BeautyArmy, AND MyGlam, so I will be choosing 2 out of the 3 to give my loyalties to.  I am expecting my MyGlam in the mail tomorrow, and BeautyArmy is launching in January.  So there's no reason to pout over my bummer Birchbox, because there are many more companies coming out just like it, (and possibly better!)

Beauty Army is $12 a month, free shipping, and you can get 6 beauty samples a month.  It's impossible to get something you don't want!  You put together a beauty profile based upon a survey, and they suggest some great products for you.  If you don't want to choose, they choose for you.  They are launching New Year's, and I couldn't be more excited!  This is the only subscription service I know of that allows you to choose your own samples!  If you want to read more, HERE is a link to their FAQ's.

Video credit goes to BeautyArmy and their YouTube Channel...I love this vlog, and she totally inspired me to get a great new background to use for our upcoming vlogs!

MyGlam is a subscription service that just started, and is being launched by Michelle Phan.  If you haven't checked her out yet, you should.  She's kind of a big deal on Youtube, and she's got a link on Lancome's page now too.  She does a lot of really wild looks if you are into that, but many of her videos are great for every woman.  I am so excited to be receiving my first bag from her.  Her service is $10/month and provides 4-5 beauty samples, encased in a beautiful bag.  They are different every month, but this month's very cute!  I really like the idea of getting a nice little clutch or makeup case each month with my subscription.  I did take a survey in order to find out what I would be getting, and I'm pretty sure everyone gets the same products this first month of the launch.  It's unclear to me if in the future they will be letting us see our products we get in advance.  The cool thing about this service is that everything in the bag is meant to work together to create a look.  I think the stylists all create different looks with the same products too, which is super exciting!

This is Michelle Phan on YouTube telling us all about how her company works!

Birchbox is another great company (I know, I know, I was giving it a hard time...).  What I do love about this company is the fact that for $10, you got 4-5 deluxe samples and you never get the same one twice.  You take a survey to determine what you get, although I'm not sure how much the results play into what you get, since I've received a few bummer items in the past 3 months.  The beauty of this company is that they want your reviews, and actually care what you think.  Once you receive the products, you are able to put a review on their website (it's really easy) and you earn 10 points.  You also earn 10 points for every Birchbox you get (so 10 points a month automatically), 50 points for every friend you invite who buys a Birchbox, and 1 point for every dollar spent in the Birchbox store.  Unfortunately, they don't have quite the selection in their store as Sephora, but they have everything available that was in your box, plus a lot more.  Your points are money towards buying a full size product.  Right now, I have $20 to spend in the store!  Cha-ching!

Super cute video showing us all about December products that their customers get to try out in December!

Let us know in the comments section if you are currently members of any of these great clubs!  Can't wait to hear what you have to say! 

Yours in Beauty, Justina